Oscar Pistorius' lawyers head to court over parole process
The lawyers representing convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius have confirmed their intention to approach the high court in an effort to secure parole for the former athlete.
Pistorius’ parole process started last year after the Supreme Court of Appeal amended its ruling on his sentence for a second time.
The Paralympian was convicted of murder for the 2014 shooting-death of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp following a lengthy appeals process.
He was initially convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to five years. However, in 2015 the SCA increased the sentence to 15 years.
His lawyer Julian Knight says he has been waiting on the Department of Correctional Services to start the parole process.
“No application has been issued yet. I am waiting for a response from the department, and should I get no response from them, I have no other option but to proceed with an application to the court.”
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Knight has argued that his client is eligible for parole.
“The order of the Supreme Court of Appeal is ambiguous and the committal warrant that they issued as a result of that, he has already passed his eligibility date.”
Knight says there has also not been an update from the department on the offender–victim dialogue with Steenkamp’s family.
“We don’t [have] feedback from the department on that. It says the process is being passed on to the Department of Social Welfare, but the DSW is not giving an update to the DCS. So at this point in time, everyone is in the dark.”
Department of Correction Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo says they are engaging with their lawyers and cannot comment at this stage.
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